The Death Of The Elven King Poem by David Smart

The Death Of The Elven King



The Death of the Elven King


In the dawning of the days
When Earth was still yet young,
The Elvenfolk lived peacefully
And spoke the Elven tongue.

The Elven tongue was known by all,
By bird and plant and beast,
All lived in peace and harmony,
The greatest and the least.

To guide them all the Elvenfolk
Were placed by Nature's plan,
And gentle love lay all around
And had since time began.

The oldest was the Elven King,
He ruled by love and grace
And all the Elvenfolk rejoiced
To dwell within this place.

Though old, the King was strong of arm
And his spirit all could feel
It shone about him like the sun;
All sickness he could heal.

There was no problem that arose
That the King, by Rule of Law,
Could not resolve, so all who loved
Him, loved him all the more.

Then rumours spread around the world
Of one who would not stay
Within the Rule of Law so sound,
Who chose to break away.

This one opposed the rule that said
‘No being shalt thou kill.'
And chose to look on everything
As subject to his will.

He would not heed the natural right
Of beast and plant and bird.
He would not heed the Elven King,
He would not heed his word.

This one was Foe to all things good,
He revelled in his power.
His strength of arm and strength of will
Made all the wild things cower.

No beast of field nor bird of air
Was proof against his ire.
He hesitated not to kill,
His malice would not tire.

In peace the Elvenfolk had dwelt
With creatures great and small.
The Foe with wanton pride and lust
Destroyed them one and all.

The Elven King told of these things
Said ‘This thing cannot be!
‘I will confront this awful Foe
‘And try to make him see

‘There is no place for such as he
‘In this sweet world of ours.
‘All his awful deeds bring woe
‘To birds and beasts and flowers.'

The Elven King had armour made
Of copper burnished bright
And magic laced it through and through,
Prepared it for the fight.

Of hardened copper was his sword
It's edge was sharpened keen
And magic made it stronger than
The world had ever seen.

From Elven Tower the King strode forth
Together with his folk,
Went to the place the Foe had stayed
Since his last killing stroke.

‘I beg of you' the good King said,
‘To cease this awful crime'.
The Foe stood firm, was unafraid
And said ‘This is MY time! '

‘I have the right, by power of might
‘To do whate're I please
‘For God has given power to me
‘O'er land and sky and seas.'

‘All things there are, all things there be
‘He placed within my hand.
‘All things there are must bow to me
‘Or ‘gainst me they must stand.'

‘Then here stand I' the King replied,
‘Not ‘gainst you but for all
‘The creatures living in this world
‘That you would hold in thrall.'

‘Then take your blade and make your stand
‘And fight me if you must! '
The Foe his banner then unfurled
It read ‘My God Is Just.'



‘What is this ‘God' of which you speak? '
Asked the Elven King.
‘For I have never heard of it
‘I know of no such thing.'

‘My God is great, My God is just,
‘My God is over all.
‘My God has done all that was done,
‘Created great and small.'

The good King smiled and said ‘My child
‘In error you must be
‘For all the creatures in this land
‘Are bound in love to me.'

The Foe displayed an awful rage
And said ‘That cannot be
‘For God has placed within MY hand
‘Responsibility'

‘To do His will and spread His word
‘And fight His enemy
‘And if to Him you do not bow
‘Defeated you must be.'

The Elven King thought long and hard
Saw no alternative,
He must put aside his vow
To cherish all that live.

‘I see' he said, ‘I have no choice
‘I'll slay you if I must
‘And I will fight you unto death
'til one of us is dust.'

The Foe was strong, his will was set,
His sword was made of steel.
The Elven sword with magic made
Was only partly real.

In woodland glade they took their stand
The Elf King and the Foe,
With mighty clash of sword on sword
They battled to and fro.

The King he fought for land and life
The Foe he fought for greed
The King was noble, full of love,
The Foe - another breed.

The swords they slashed, their edges bit
Through armour, flesh and bone.
The King's pale blood splashed on the ground
The Foe's red dripped and shone.



Long weary hours they fought until
They both could barely stand
And then the Foe with savage slash
Smote off the King's right hand.

Disarmed, the King fell back a pace
All stood quiet and still.
The Foe instead of standing back
Closed in for the kill.

As life's blood drained the Elf King stood
With sorrow in his eyes.
The Foe up flung his steely sword
And smote that King so wise.

The Elven King adown did fall
His helm was smote in twain
The Foe swung high his sword of steel
And smote the King again.

The King lay still and 'gainst his will
He found he could not rise.
The Foe stood tall, his laugh did peal.
His joy shone in his eyes.

'This land is mine! ' the Foe declared
'I claim it as my right.
'Elvenfolk, you now must leave
‘Your King has lost this fight! '

The Elvenfolk took up their King
Wrapped in his cloak of gray
Bore him home where they could grieve
The passing of his day.

When evening fell the Elven King
Lay in the Elven Tower.
Sore wounded he and near to death
Within a woody bower.

His loyal page sat by his side.
The King's life ebbed away.
His eyes then opened one last time
And this the King did say,

‘Our time is past, our day is done;
‘Tell all of Elvenkind
‘That they must leave this precious land,
'A new home they must find.'

‘They must set sail out to the West
‘O'er miles of stormy sea,
‘Until they reached the Blessed Isles
‘Where they will welcome be.'



‘For in those Isles doth peace prevail
‘And there they'll surely find
‘Safe harbour, peace and kindliness -
‘A home for Elvenkind.'

With his last breath the King enquired
As out his lifeblood ran,
‘What was that creature that I fought? '
The page said ‘It was MAN'.



David E. Smart.

Saturday, December 9, 2017
Topic(s) of this poem: fantasy
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David Smart

David Smart

Warwickshire, England
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